Easter nests for us Spring Chickens

I had a romantic notion about us going skiing as a family next winter. My head was full to the brim with thoughts of white powdery snow falling softly around us, hot chocolates being sipped in the firelight, red cheeks and dewy eyes whilst singing Kombuya with arms intertwined and hearts aglow.

Then it snowed in Ireland.

What’s the first thing a human being under the age of 5 wants to do when it snows? Go out in it, of course. And with that you wrestle him or her (or worse again THEM) into layer upon layer of ill fitting hand me down ski-wear purchased from the local discount supermarket. When you have literally wept into the fleece lining on their plastic leggings you set them free into the snow

Like a phoenix rising from the ashes you feel the life pulse back through your veins as they disappear outside to

What is the 2nd thing a human under the age of 5 want to do when it snows? Come back inside.

And finally what is the 3rd thing that a human under the age of 5 wants to do when it snows? GO BACK OUTSIDE AGAIN AFTER 5 MINUTES. There is no amount of disposable nappy bags or plastic gloves over mittens that will comfort you at this point. It takes every bone in your body to resist the urge to run outside with a hair dryer to attempt a snow melting frenzied attack.

With that I am throwing my arms open wide to welcome Easter. For surely, with Easter will come the promise of summer. And look, if all else fails, I know that it will most certainly come with chocolate. Plenty of chocolate … one of life’s greatest pleasures, in my humble, sleep deprived opinion.

Who could deny us chocolate? This one is dairy free, suitable for vegans, has no refined sugar and makes me happy!

Ingredients

1 and 1/2 cups of Oats

90g Cocoa Butter

2 tbsp maple syrup

1/2 cup raw cacao (or cocoa if you do not have cacao)

75g raisins

Toppings as listed below.

Method

Heat oven to 180C. Pop the oats onto a baking tray and toast in oven for 8 minutes.

Grate the Cocoa butter using a box grater or chop into small pieces using a knife. Then melt in a bowl over a pan of simmering water.

Add the raw cacao (or cocoa if using) and the maple syrup to the bowl – I using a whisk to mix it together.

Add the oats and raisins to the cacao mixture. Stir well to coat them evenly as possible.

Put (roughly) 2 table spoons of the mixture onto a tray lined with baking liner. Make a little well in the middle.

Add you topping of choice. I used:

chopped dried apricots

yoghurt raisins

Chocolate eggs

Almonds

Whatever takes your fancy!!

Pop the tray into the fridge for them to set. Once set store in a sealed container in the fridge.